Published August 22, 1985 | Version v1
Journal article

Oblateness of the Sun in 1983 and relativity

  • 1. Princeton Univ., NJ (USA). Joseph Henry Labs.

Description

Measurements of the solar oblateness obtained during 1983 from Mount Wilson, California, yield a value with an upper bound only half of that observed in 1966. This difference may support the conjecture that the solar quadrupole moment slowly oscillates. A knowledge of the character of such an oscillation, if it occurs, would be needed to test Einstein's relativity theory using Mercury's orbital motion. (author)

Additional details

Publishing Information

Journal Title
Nature (London)
Journal Volume
316
Journal Issue
6030
Series
Nature (London).
Journal Page Range
687-690
ISSN
0028-0836

INIS

Country of Publication
United Kingdom
Country of Input or Organization
United Kingdom
INIS RN
16079294
Subject category
S79: ASTROPHYSICS, COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY;
Resource subtype / Literary indicator
Numerical Data
Descriptors DEI
BRIGHTNESS; EXPERIMENTAL DATA; MERCURY PLANET; OSCILLATIONS; QUADRUPOLE MOMENTS; RADIATION FLUX; RELATIVITY THEORY; ROTATION; SHAPE; SUN; VISIBLE RADIATION
Descriptors DEC
DATA; ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION; FIELD THEORIES; INFORMATION; MAIN SEQUENCE STARS; NUMERICAL DATA; OPTICAL PROPERTIES; PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; PLANETS; RADIATIONS; STARS